Traditional mental health and addiction treatment often overlook a critical factor—brain chemistry imbalance caused by nutrient deficiencies. When the brain isn’t properly nourished, people struggle with mood swings, cravings, anxiety, and relapse risk—even when they’re doing “all the right things.” Scientific research over the past 100 years, and continuing today, has proven over and over again which specific nutrients, available in good quality food, the brain actually requires to function optimally. It has also clearly demonstrated which psychiatric symptoms result from a deficiency of these nutrients. 

Most clients in early recovery are seriously deficient in many of these nutrients! These deficiencies are the underlying cause of many of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia and cravings our clients experience – and which often lead them to relapse. While medication can sometimes help to alleviate some of this distress, they don’t provide the brain with the nutrients necessary to repair itself, and optimally fuel a successful recovery journey. 

At the Feed the Recovering Brain Summit and through courses from the Academy for Addiction & Mental Health Nutrition, we teach how simple, targeted nutrition strategies can help restore brain function, reduce cravings, and support long-term emotional balance. And you don’t need to be a nutritionist to apply these principles!